Knicks 117, Cavaliers 86: Kyrie Irving denies wanting to leave team

Friday

Jan 31, 2014 at 12:01 AMJan 31, 2014 at 10:52 AM

NEW YORK - A fairly emphatic Kyrie Irving denied an ESPN.com report that he privately has told people he wants out of Cleveland, though the Cavaliers All-Star stopped short of saying he would sign a five-year extension if the team offered one this summer.

NEW YORK - A fairly emphatic Kyrie Irving denied an ESPN.com report that he privately has told people he wants out of Cleveland, though the Cavaliers All-Star stopped short of saying he would sign a five-year extension if the team offered one this summer.

"There's been so much so-called reports, 'I don't want to be here,' " Irving said after the Cavs' most recent dismal performance, a 117-86 loss to the New York Knicks last night. "That's what you guys get paid to do.

"There's so much negative attention on me. I know we're struggling, but it's not about me. It's about our team. It's about us fighting every day for each other, me fighting for my teammates. … I'm still in my rookie contract, and I'm happy to be here and I'm pretty sure that I'm going to be here for a long time."

When asked if he would sign a five-year deal this summer, Irving said, "It's still too early to say."

The latest version of this rumor surfaced during an online chat by Chad Ford of ESPN.com when Ford was asked whether Cavs coach Mike Brown and general manager Chris Grant are on the hot seat.

Ford wrote: "Chemistry is a major issue there, and some of that is on Mike Brown. But more of it is on the collection of players in Cleveland at the moment. … Kyrie Irving has been telling people privately he wants out."

This isn't the first time Irving has been rumored to be unhappy in Cleveland.

Carmelo Anthony and Tim Hardaway Jr. had 29 points each for New York, which bolted to a 16-point lead with a 38-point first quarter and was never threatened.

"It started when they hit us in the mouth in the first quarter," Irving said. "We just have to play with a little more fire, especially starting off the game."

Brown and Grant took turns in recent days bemoaning the Cavs' players for their lack of effort, yet the team promptly responded with what was arguably its worst effort of the season.

The Cavs surrendered six layups and dunks in the first quarter and nine in the first half. The Knicks made 10 of their first 13 shots and led by 17 just six minutes into the game. The Knicks shot uncontested three-pointers and enjoyed open lanes to the basket. And not once did anyone wearing a Cavs jersey do anything about it.

The concerns have been addressed, but hardly resolved.

That was evident when J.R. Smith enjoyed a behind-the-back dunk because Irving and Dion Waiters didn't get back in transition. The Knicks followed on their next possession with a dunk by Tyson Chandler while Irving and No. 1 draft pick Anthony Bennett stood and watched.

Brown immediately called a timeout as the Knicks strutted and danced off the floor with a 102-76 lead.

Irving scored 24 points and Waiters 21 to lead Cleveland.

Information from the (Cleveland) Plain Dealer and Akron Beacon Journal was included in this story.